Seaside Shingle Villa

Waterfront Shingled Villa

As a tear-down on a small waterfront lot on Cape Cod, we needed to maximize every inch of the available footprint while adhering to strict FEMA costal regulations. Early in the design process, it was decided that the house was to be built on concrete piers in order to be in compliance. On the bright side, this solution allowed for a foyer and one-car garage on the lowest level, while the views from the two upper living levels (each with its own deck) was going to be fantastic. The living areas would be on the true first floor, while the second floor would house two bedrooms and a primary suite.

With this tight footprint, it was difficult to create an interesting roofline or develop a clever massing, and early on the building was in danger of becoming boxy. For the final solution, we incorporated a system of classical proportions and rhythmic architectural features along with a good dose of seaside sensibilities. Like Palladio’s famous 16th-century Venetian villas, with their raised first floor levels (or piano nobile), this home incorporates a three-part (tryptic) façade embellished with arched and grouped windows. Shingle-style treatments provided a familiar context for the home’s exterior. These details and expert construction by Kendall Homes successfully brought all our hard work to fruition.

Photographs by Tamara Flanagan Photography